Atlanta entrepreneur expands The Southern Shmooze Facebook group into local business database

Atlanta entrepreneur Grant Wallace discusses his latest business venture: The Southern Shmooze on “Closer Look.” (LaShawn Hudson)

Grant Wallace, the owner of Peace of Mind Glass Recycling and Grantlanta Lawn, understands the power of an idea, service and connecting people. Now, he’s connecting the dots of all three with his latest business venture: The Southern Shmooze.

On Monday’s edition of “Closer Look,” the serial entrepreneur returned to the program. He talked with show host Rose Scott about his new business directory, which was born from a Facebook group he started during the pandemic, that has now grown to nearly 13,000 members.

“You know, 5 years later, it’s a very active community, ” Wallace said. “It started as a Facebook group and still thrives in that medium. It’s also a website now, but it’s grown beyond any expectation I ever had.”